Grandville Interurban

[Saturnalia]

It isn't at all uncommon to find rail in streets...I'm sure there are a bunch in Godfrey alone...seeing as though they just keep adding pavement! That street needs a gut job!

[MQT1223]

Which explains the "makes sense" comment.

But didn't explain that any evidence would have been removed when 28th went from 2 lanes to 5 in the late 50's.

No rail was ever in 28th street except where the intersection with Ivanrest now sits if I remember correctly. That whole setup was just torn down to dirt last year, there was nothing under the road.

[J T]

Godfrey is one of the worst streets in the city that sees a lot of traffic. I sometimes think they keep it that way on purpose to help reduce speeds. It's pretty funny to see older cars with poor suspensions hauling arse down that street.

[MQT1223]

Godfrey is one of the worst streets in the city that sees a lot of traffic. I sometimes think they keep it that way on purpose to help reduce speeds. It's pretty funny to see older cars with poor suspensions hauling arse down that street.

It probably helps. Pot holes and bad man holes work wonders on cars if you hit them hard enough. Us Michiganders know this quite well.

It isn't at all uncommon to find rail in streets...I'm sure there are a bunch in Godfrey alone...seeing as though they just keep adding pavement! That street needs a gut job!

Did the interurban even go down Godfrey? I don't think it did. Maybe you could give the city some money to redo Godfrey. My car's shocks are shot and I'm not complaining when I go down Godfrey. Terrible on my car, but it's a lot of fun to go down a road like Godfrey. Century Ave is the same way when your going north from Burton.

[J T]

Godfrey is one of the worst streets in the city that sees a lot of traffic. I sometimes think they keep it that way on purpose to help reduce speeds. It's pretty funny to see older cars with poor suspensions hauling arse down that street.

It probably helps. Pot holes and bad man holes work wonders on cars if you hit them hard enough.

The potholes are the least of the issues. It's the crazy undulations that wreak most of the havoc on vehicles.

[MQT1223]

Godfrey is one of the worst streets in the city that sees a lot of traffic. I sometimes think they keep it that way on purpose to help reduce speeds. It's pretty funny to see older cars with poor suspensions hauling arse down that street.

It probably helps. Pot holes and bad man holes work wonders on cars if you hit them hard enough.

The potholes are the least of the issues. It's the crazy undulations that wreak most of the havoc on vehicles.

Back to the original point. Did any interurban even go down Godfrey? Maybe the Grand Rapids Street Railway? Closest rail line with interurban ties is the ex. NYC, now Oxford Street Trail that parallels Godfrey.

[Saturnalia]

The IU did to run down Godfrey, it crossed it...right at the creek. Bridge abutments are still there and clearly visible from Godfrey

There are also likely rails under there from the PM, too, up near the current crossing

[MQT1223]

The IU did to run down Godfrey, it crossed it...right at the creek. Bridge abutments are still there and clearly visible from Godfrey

There are also likely rails under there from the PM, too, up near the current crossing

But no rails right down the middle of the street?

[J T]

The IU did to run down Godfrey, it crossed it...right at the creek. Bridge abutments are still there and clearly visible from Godfrey

There are also likely rails under there from the PM, too, up near the current crossing

Not interurban rails, but in the same vicinity and equally interesting (to me, at least), if you head south on Clyde Park from Grandville Ave, take a drive through the parking lot (on your right) across from London St. and you'll see a bunch of rails from whatever spur used to go through there.

[MQT1223]

The IU did to run down Godfrey, it crossed it...right at the creek. Bridge abutments are still there and clearly visible from Godfrey

There are also likely rails under there from the PM, too, up near the current crossing

Not interurban rails, but in the same vicinity and equally interesting (to me, at least), if you head south on Clyde Park from Grandville Ave, take a drive through the parking lot (on your right) across from London St. and you'll see a bunch of rails from whatever spur used to go through there.

Yeah I saw those before. Isn't that ex. Penn Central tracks?

[Standard Railfan]

Not interurban rails, but in the same vicinity and equally interesting (to me, at least), if you head south on Clyde Park from Grandville Ave, take a drive through the parking lot (on your right) across from London St. and you'll see a bunch of rails from whatever spur used to go through there.

Former PRR Plaster Mill Track and sidings, spurs, etc. for the industry located there.

[fmilhaupt]

I've often wondered how the Pennsy handled switching up along Godfrey, especially north of Hall Street, where its tracks intertwined with the PM.

Based on the old Sanborn maps, I put together this map of the area as a preliminary aid in designing a switching layout:

http://www.fritzmilhaupt.com/bbgraphics ... apjfm1.pdf

[Standard Railfan]

What a wonderful map. I have been trying to figure out the track layout in that area for some time. The area is ideal for a great shelf railroad. Thank you very much Fritz.

[J T]

Wow, impressive map! Thanks, Fritz.

[C&O6084]

Most recent PM TRACKS has Fritz's article about the Lumber Spur. Best researched article I've seen in PMT in a long time.